Pivoting Trailing Edge Support for Long Sheet Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face difficulties in efficiently handling and feeding long sheets of recording medium, often resulting in interference and feeding failures due to the trailing edge supporting tray interfering with the manual feeder tray.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a pivotally movable trailing edge supporting member that rotates between a usage position and a retraction position, allowing for stable support of long sheets by maintaining an attitude through its own weight, thereby preventing interference and improving operational efficiency during sheet feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a trailing edge supporting tray is provided above the manual feeder tray to support long sheets, then the ability to handle long sheets is improved, but the tray interferes with the manual feeder tray during sheet placement
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing edge supporting tray is made rotatable about a shaft extending in the sheet width direction, allowing it to dynamically change position between a usage position (where it supports the trailing edge of long sheets) and a retraction position (where it is rotated away to prevent interference with manual feeder tray operations). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling the tray to be present when needed and absent when it would cause interference.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the trailing edge supporting member is positioned to support long sheets, then sheet support stability is improved, but it creates interference with the manual feeder tray
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing edge supporting member is configured to rotate between a usage position and a retraction position. In the usage position, it provides stable support for the trailing edge of long sheets. In the retraction position, it is rotated away from the manual feeder tray area, eliminating interference. The member maintains its support function when needed while avoiding harmful interference when retracted.
3Device complexity
If the trailing edge supporting member maintains attitude by its own weight, then the mechanism complexity is reduced, but the positioning precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing edge supporting member maintains its operational attitude solely by its own weight, without requiring additional actuators, sensors, or control systems. The member's center of gravity is positioned such that when rotated to the usage position, gravity naturally holds it in the correct orientation for supporting sheets. This self-service approach reduces mechanism complexity while providing sufficient positioning precision for the application.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient and stable feeding of long sheets by preventing interference and ensuring proper alignment, enhancing the operational efficiency and reducing the likelihood of feeding failures.
Implementation Method 1
the center of gravity of said trailing supporting member is apart from said image forming unit than the rotational center with respect to a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the sheet width direction, and wherein the retraction position is a position where said trailing supporting member is retracted when the long sheet to be used is placed on said manual feed tray and the center of gravity of said trailing supporting member is in a side of said image forming unit than the rotational center with respect to the horizontal direction and said trailing edge supporting member maintains an attitude thereof by its own weight
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a first supporting member supporting a long sheet, a feeding unit for feeding the long sheet supported by the first supporting member with respect to a feeding direction and a second supporting member, rotatable about a rotational shaft, for supporting the long sheet with the first supporting member. In a state in which the sheet is bent so that a first portion of the long sheet is supported by the first supporting member and a second portion which is a more rear side than the first portion is positioned above the first portion, the second supporting member is movable between a first position where the second supporting member supports the second portion of the sheet and a second position where the center of gravity of the second supporting member is positioned downstream of a rotational center with respect to the feeding direction and the second supporting member maintains an attitude thereof by its own weight.